EP1680944B1 - Heating bag for bakery products - Google Patents

Abstract

The heater bag for bakery products comprises a flexible or semi-rigid casing defining a bottom (111), side walls (110), an opening (112), and means (113) for selectively closing the opening (112). At least one semi-flexible heater plate (121, 122) having an electrical heater element (141, 142) incorporated therein is itself inserted in a pocket of natural material comprising cotton, flax, and wool, said pocket constituting a portion of the flexible or semi-rigid casing of the bag. For each heater plate (121, 122), the heating power per cm2 lies in the range 0.13 W to 0.24 W.

Description

The present invention relates to a heating bag for bakery products made using a flour-based dough, the heating bag comprising a flexible or semi-rigid envelope defining a bottom, side walls, an opening and means for selectively closing the opening.

Various types of heated packaging are already known, in particular for food products, which comprise an enclosure equipped with electric heating means. These devices, however, are generally made in the form of rigid boxes of relatively high cost and a significant weight even if they are intended to be portable.

It is also known, for example from the document GB 2127678A heating bags for food products, these bags comprising a plastic outer casing associated with an aluminum sheet and an inner lining which comprises heating electric resistances placed opposite the aluminum sheet, the electric heating resistors being fed from a low voltage supply available for example on the cigarette lighter socket of a motor vehicle. Such a type of heating bag is unsuitable for the reheating of particular foods such as bakery products for which it is essential to specifically control the evaporation of water to avoid a staling effect of the bread or baking. considered bakery article such as a bun for example.

The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and to make it possible to produce a light, inexpensive, easily transportable heating bag, and able to ensure safe rapid heating of baked goods, such as bread with or without yeast, as for example baguette or flute bread, bread rye, wholegrain bread, bran bread, breads, breads known as pita, motsi, mezonot, halot, lavash, pretzels, matsot, Italian breads, tabouna or panini, or Viennese pastries, such as milk pies, buns or croissants, preserving all the quality and integrity of these products while improving their flavor.

These objects are achieved, according to the invention, thanks to a heating bag for bakery products made using a flour-based dough, the bag comprising a flexible or semi-rigid envelope defining a bottom, walls lateral, an opening and means for selectively closing the opening,
characterized in that it comprises at least one semi-flexible heating plate in which is incorporated an electrical resistance and which is itself inserted into a cover of a natural material comprising cotton, linen and wool, this cover constituting a part of the bottom, side walls or closure means of the bag, and in that for each heating plate the heating power per cm ² is between 0.13 W and 0.24 W.

The heating power per cm ² for each heating plate is preferably between 0.16 W and 0.20 W and even more preferably close to 0.18 W.

Advantageously, the heating bag comprises first and second semi-flexible heating plates in each of which is incorporated an electrical resistance and which are themselves inserted in covers made of a natural material constituting a part of the bottom, side walls or means of heating. closing the bag.

The supply voltage of the electrical resistance of each heating plate is between 100 V and 240 V.

According to a first possible embodiment, the first and second heating plates are incorporated in two opposite parts of the side walls.

According to another possible embodiment, the first and second plates are incorporated firstly in the bottom of the bag and secondly in the means for selectively closing the opening.

According to an advantageous embodiment, each semi-flexible heating plate comprises an integrated wire electrical resistance sheet inserted in sheets of silicone glass fabric.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, each cover incorporating the first and second semi-flexible heating plates comprises firstly an outer cotton pad and a cotton pad disposed between the outer cotton pad and said hot plate and on the other hand an inner cotton liner disposed on the inner side with respect to said heating plate.

For a use more specifically adapted to elongated breads such as chopsticks, the heating bag may comprise an elongate shape and the means for selectively closing the opening are constituted by a simple flexible flap or by means of closure arranged near the edge of the opening.

For use more specifically adapted to small breads or pastries or in the form of a ball, pancake or crown, the heating bag can be in the form of a case and can in this case include reinforced semi-rigid walls for example by a layer of fusible sealant product.

According to a particular feature, which makes the heating bag more universal, the heating bag includes a switch for selectively connecting the series electrical resistors for power from a supply voltage source to a first nominal voltage V _N1 or in parallel for a diet to from a supply voltage source at a second nominal voltage V _N2 equal to half of the first nominal voltage V _N1 .

The heating bag may further include a thermal limiter built into each hotplate.

According to a particular embodiment, the heating bag comprises a pair of semi-flexible heating plates disposed in two opposite main faces of the bag and the walls joining these two opposite main faces have a deformation capacity in a direction perpendicular to said opposite main faces.

Each semi-flexible heating plate can be removable relative to the cover in which it is inserted.

• la figure 1 est une vue d'ensemble en perspective d'un premier exemple de sac chauffant selon l'invention, adapté à des pains allongés,
• la figure 2 est une section selon la ligne II-II de la figure 1 montrant la constitution d'une partie de la paroi latérale du sac incorporant une plaque électrique chauffante semi-rigide,
• la figure 3 est un schéma montrant le montage électrique des première et deuxième plaques électriques chauffantes destinées à être incorporées dans des housses d'un sac chauffant selon l'invention,
• la figure 4 est une vue d'ensemble en perspective, en position ouverte, d'un autre exemple de sac chauffant en forme de mallette adapté à des pains de petite taille ou en forme de boule, de galette ou de couronne,
• la figure 5 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 4, mais montre le sac chauffant en position fermée,
• la figure 6 est une section selon la ligne VI-VI de la figure 4 montrant la constitution d'une partie de la paroi supérieure du sac incorporant une plaque électrique chauffante semi-rigide, et
• la figure 7 est une section selon la ligne VII-VII de la figure 4 montrant la constitution de la paroi latérale du sac chauffant en forme de mallette.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of particular embodiments, given by way of example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 is an overall perspective view of a first example of a heating bag according to the invention, suitable for elongated loaves,
• the figure 2 is a section along line II-II of the figure 1 showing the constitution of a portion of the side wall of the bag incorporating a semi-rigid electric heating plate,
• the figure 3 is a diagram showing the electrical assembly of the first and second electric heating plates intended to be incorporated in covers of a heating bag according to the invention,
• the figure 4 is an overall perspective view, in the open position, of another example of a bag-shaped heating bag adapted to small breads or in the form of a ball, a cake or a crown,
• the figure 5 is a view similar to that of the figure 4 but shows the heating bag in the closed position,
• the figure 6 is a section along line VI-VI of the figure 4 showing the constitution of a portion of the upper wall of the bag incorporating a semi-rigid electric heating plate, and
• the figure 7 is a section along line VII-VII of the figure 4 showing the constitution of the side wall of the briefcase-shaped heatbag.

We will first describe with reference to Figures 1 to 3 a first example of a heating bag suitable for reheating elongated breads, such as chopsticks or flutes, but which can also be used for other bakery products of various shapes and sizes.

It should be noted that bakery products include breads made with a fermented dough made from cereal flour, unleavened breads or pastries.

As examples of breads with or without yeast, there may be mentioned whole bread, bran bread, rye bread, bread, Italian bread, breads known as pitta, motsi, mezonot , halot, lavash, pretzels, matsot, tabouna or panini.

Viennese pastries may include, for example, pains au lait, brioches, croissants or cakes.

The invention also applies to filled breads or pastries, such as, for example, sandwiches, falafels, shawarmas, raisin breads, chocolate breads, when the elements added to the bread are placed in the oven. inside of it and withstand a temperature of the order of 40 to 42 ° C.

Products such as quiches, which include foods that are not completely incorporated in the dough, are not however suitable for being placed in a flexible bag such as that illustrated on the drawing. figure 1 , but can if necessary be arranged in a bag-shaped bag such as that which will be described later with reference to Figures 4 to 7 .

The heated bread bag 100 illustrated on the figure 1 comprises a bottom 111, side walls 110 and an upper opening 112. A flap 113 can close the upper opening 112 for introducing the bread. The flap 113 can be held in the closed position by a closure system comprising, for example, tapes 114, 115 disposed on the flap and on the upper part of the bag, these tapes 114, 115 being provided for catching each other. other via textile fibers. Other types of button closures, snaps or zipper are naturally possible. These closure means may optionally be arranged directly at the edge of the opening 112 and the flap 113 may in this case be deleted. A cord 116 attached to the bag 100 facilitates its transport.

The bag 100 is made of a light, flexible material capable of withstanding temperatures of the order of 40 ° C. to 45 ° C. This material is preferably a natural material such as cotton or optionally flax or wool, especially worsted wool. The bag can also be made from a mixed fabric of natural fibers including for example a mixture of cotton and linen or cotton and wool.

The bag 100 may have various dimensions as required, but may advantageously have a height L2 of the order of 700 mm and a width L1 of the order of 260 mm, which makes it suitable for long breads such as Parisian chopsticks or flutes.

The heated bread bag 100 comprises at least one and, preferably, two semi-flexible electric heating plates 121, 122 which are sandwiched within the front and rear faces of the side walls 114 of the bag.

The side walls of the bag 100 for incorporating the heating plates 121, 122 are thus made in the form of covers or soft cotton bags within which are trapped the semi-flexible heating plates 121, 122.

Each semi-flexible heating plate 121, 122 comprises an electrical wire resistor 155 comprising turns 141, 142 distributed in a sheet and inserted in sheets of a material such as, for example, silicone glass fabric 154 ( figures 2 and 3 ).

Each rectangular heating plate 121, 122 has dimensions D1, D2 slightly smaller than the width L1 and the height L2 of the front faces of the bag 100.

With the example of dimensions L1 and L2 given above, a heating plate 121, 122 may have for example a width D1 = 177 mm and a length D2 = 620 mm.

The nature of the electrical wire 155, its section, the total length of the turns 141, 142 and their distribution, as well as the supply voltage, are chosen so as to deliver a heating power per cm ² of between 0.13 W and 0.24 W and preferably between 0.16 and 0.20 W, a preferred value being 0.18 W.

Thanks to such a choice of values, the heating of breads or other bakery products placed in the bag 100 can be carried out rapidly in a few minutes, of the order of 2 or 3 minutes, depending on the ambient temperature, and allows to reach an optimum temperature of reheating of the products, of the order of 36 ° C to 44 ° C, with an average value of the order of 40 ° C, which is such that the warmed bread retains all its flavor and is not neither too hard nor too dry and does not become stale even when it comes back to room temperature. The choice of particular power densities for the hotplates 121, 122 ensures that the water particles present in the bread are not completely eliminated, unlike the case of toast or bread placed in a microwave oven.

Each flexible cotton cover intended to incorporate a heating plate 121, 122 preferably comprises on the one hand an outer cotton lining 151 associated with a cotton lining 153 disposed between the outer cotton lining 151 and the heating plate 121, 122 and on the other hand an inner cotton liner 156 disposed on the inner side with respect to the heating plate 121, 122 ( figure 2 ). These natural materials make it possible both to make a lightweight bag and able to withstand the heat while concentrating the heat inside the bag, the cotton fin 153 or an equivalent fleece ensuring in particular a thermal insulation compared to the 'outside.

Because the plates 121, 122 are arranged parallel to each other in two opposite faces of the side walls 110 of the bag 100, the loaves arranged in the bag can be quickly warmed up. The heating is faster if the bag is laid flat on one of the faces containing one of the plates 121, 122, but reheating is also performed under satisfactory conditions if the bag is held vertically by being suspended for example by its cord 116.

The bag 100 may comprise bellows 110C between the two main lateral faces 110A, 110B so as to allow adaptation to different quantities of bread while ensuring, when the bag is laid flat, the greatest possible proximity between the bread and the breads. walls equipped with the heating plates 121, 122, because of the capacity of deformation of the bellows 110C in a direction perpendicular to the main faces 110A, 110B of the bag 100.

The supply voltage of the electrical resistances 141, 142 of the heating plates 121, 122 is preferably between about 100 V and 240 V. The son 155 can be for example nickel-chromium.

The figure 3 shows an example electrical diagram supplying the electrical resistors 141, 142 of the plates 121, 122.

A socket 131, for example of the type 1 + 1, allows the connection to a power cord intended to be connected to a cable. taking a supply network which may have a first nominal voltage V _N1 for example of the order of 230 V or 220 V, or a second nominal voltage V _N2 , for example of the order of 115 V or 110 V, which is half of the first nominal voltage V _N1 .

A switch 132, which may be associated with an indicator light 133 incorporated or not in the switch 132, allows the commissioning of the heater. A fuse 135 ensures the safety of the circuit.

A bi-voltage switch 134 having terminals A to E is connected so that in a first position of the switch 134 (shown in FIG. figure 3 ), it provides the series supply of the resistors 141 and 142 from the socket 131, when the latter is supplied from the first nominal voltage V _N1 , for example 220 V, and in a second position of the switch 134, it provides the parallel supply of the resistors 141 and 142 from the socket 131, when it is supplied from the second nominal voltage V _N2 , for example 110 V. The heating bag 100 can thus be used with the same heating conditions both in countries with a power network with a voltage of the order of 100 to 130 V than in countries with a power network with a voltage of about 200 to 260 V, without the need for specific manufacture or use of a transformer. The same type of mounting can be applied to the case of a single heating plate having a connection midpoint allowing the series or parallel mounting of two resistance halves.

Naturally, it is also possible to make an electrical circuit adapted to a single type of nominal supply voltage, with a mounting of the electrical resistors made in a fixed manner either in series or in parallel, without the switch 134.

Thermal limiters 136, adjusted to prevent heating above a predetermined temperature, for example 44 ° C or 45 ° C, can be integrated in each hotplate 121, 122.

In the elongated bag 100, the switch 132 and its indicator 133 can be arranged at the top, while the socket 131, the switch 134 and the fuse 135 are arranged in the lower part of the bag, but this arrangement is not not mandatory and other arrangements are possible.

We will now describe with reference to Figures 4 to 7 another embodiment of heat bag 200 according to the invention which has a form of briefcase.

In the case of the heating bag 200, the bottom wall 211, the side walls 220 and the top wall 213 forming a lid and intended to fall back on the opening 212 may have a slightly greater rigidity than the walls of the elongate bag 100 of the figure 1 , while keeping some flexibility. A case 200 having the same flexibility characteristics as the elongated bag 100 can however also be implemented as an alternative. The case 200 may comprise, as in the case of the bag 100, cotton walls which have, for the side walls 210, an outer lining 261 of cotton associated with a cotton fin 263 and a cotton lining 264. A layer of semi-material -rigid such that a heat-sealant 262 is preferably interposed, for example between the outer lining 261 and the cotton fin 263 to reinforce the side wall 210 and prevent it from sinking too strongly ( figure 7 ).

In the same way, the bottom wall 212 and the cover 213, which are in the form of cotton covers like the walls 110 of the bag 100 for incorporating semi-rigid heating plates 121, 122, can be reinforced as shown. on the figure 6 .

Thus, an outer cotton pad 251, a reinforcing layer 252 such as a fusible heat-sealant and a finette of cotton 253 form an outer wall of a cotton cover in contact with a heating plate consisting for example of sheets of silicone glass fabric 254 incorporating a wire 255 forming a sheet of electrical resistance, while the inner wall of the cotton cover is constituted by a cotton lining 256 ( figure 6 ).

In the case of the case 200, the electric circuit of the heating plates 121, 122 may be similar to that described with reference to the embodiment of the figure 1 , only the dimensions being different, but the heating power range per cm ² remaining identical to what has been indicated above.

If necessary, in the case of the case 200 as for the bag 100, the heating plates 121, 122 with their supply son protected in a sheath can be removably mounted in their cover so that they can be removed temporarily with the associated elements (socket 131, switch 132, indicator 133, switch 134, fuse 135) and allow easier cleaning of the bag. In this case, each cover comprises an opening that can be closed selectively, for example by means of a zipper, to allow removal and replacement of the heating plate and its supply son .

The case 200 may comprise a cord 216, a handle 217 for the cover 213, an additional flexible flap 213A closed for example by strips of fabric 214, 215 clinging by their textile fibers, and optionally a closure slide 218 or other closure means for holding the lid 213 in the closed position on the rim of the opening 212.

For example, the case 200, particularly suitable for small products or products in the form of a ball, slab or crown, may have a depth L10 of 260 mm, a width L20 of 350 mm and a height L30 from 200 to 260 mm.

For a case having such dimensions, the heating plates 121, 122 may have for example a width D20 of 330 mm and a depth D10 of 177 mm.

Naturally, various embodiments are possible. Thus, the briefcase 200 of Figures 4 and 5 comprises semi-rigid heating plates 121, 122 arranged in parallel in the bottom 211 and the lid 213 of the case, the socket 131, the switch 132 and its indicator 133, the switch 134 and the fuse 135 being arranged on a side wall of the briefcase. However, it is also possible to have one or more hot plates similar to the plates 121, 122, in addition to the plates 121, 122 or instead thereof, in one or more of the side walls 210 of the case 200, in the extent that these would also be realized in the form of covers or pockets in a flexible natural material such as cotton, for example with the composition illustrated on the figure 6 . The bakery products would then be heated by the side walls as in the case of the flexible bag 100, rather than by the bottom and the lid.

However, in the case of heating plates 121, 122 arranged in the bottom 211 and the cover 213, and side walls 210 made sufficiently flexible, it is possible to ensure good contact of the heating walls 211, 213 with the products to to heat up, whatever the degree of filling of the bag, since the lid 213 always comes to rest on the products, even if they come for example only halfway up inside the case 200, the fact of the deformation capacity of the side walls 210 in a direction perpendicular to the main faces constituted by the bottom 211 and the lid 213, which allows the lid to sag under its own weight to the level of the products to be heated.

Claims (14)

1. A heater bag for bakery products made using a flour-based dough, the bag comprising a flexible or semi-rigid casing defining a bottom (111; 211), side walls (110; 210), an opening (112; 212), and means (113; 213) for selectively closing the opening (112; 212), the bag being characterized in that it includes at least one semi-flexible heater plate (121, 122) having an electrical heater element (141, 142) incorporated therein and itself being inserted in a pocket of natural material comprising cotton, flax, and wool, said pocket constituting a portion of the bottom (111; 211), of the side walls (110; 210), or of the means (113; 213) for closing the bag, and in that for each heater plate (121, 122) the heating power per cm² lies in the range 0.13 W to 0.24 W.
2. A heater bag according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating power per cm² for each heater plate (121, 122) lies in the range 0.16 W to 0.20 W.
3. A heater bag according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that it includes first and second semi-flexible heater plates (121, 122) each having a heater element (141, 142) incorporated therein and themselves being inserted in pockets of natural material constituting a portion of the bottom (111; 211), of the side walls (110; 210), or of the means (113; 213) for closing the bag.
4. A heater bag according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the power supply voltage for the heater element (141, 142) of each heater plate (121, 122) lies in the range 100 V to 240 V.
5. A heater bag according to claim 3, characterized in that the first and second heater plates (121, 122) are incorporated in two opposite portions of the side walls (110, 210).
6. A heater bag according to claim 3, characterized in that the first and second heater plates (121, 122) are incorporated firstly in the bottom (211) of the bag and secondly in the means (213) for selectively closing the opening (212).
7. A heater bag according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each semi-flexible heater plate (121, 122) comprises an electrical resistance wire (155; 255) integrated in a sheet that is inserted in sheets of silicone glass fabric (154; 254).
8. A heater bag according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each pocket incorporating a semi-flexible heater plate (121, 122) comprises firstly an outer cotton lining (151; 251) and a flannelette (153; 253) disposed between the outer cotton lining (151; 251) and said heater plate (121, 122), and secondly an inner cotton lining (156; 256) placed on the inside relative to said heater plate (121, 122).
9. A heater bag according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and 7, 8, the bag being characterized in that it is elongate in shape and in that the means (113) for selectively closing the opening (112) are constituted by a simple flexible flap (113A) or by closure means disposed in the vicinity of the rim of the opening (112).
10. A heater bag according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is in the form of a case and includes semi-rigid walls reinforced by a layer (252, 262) of a heat-reactivatable substance used for tieback.
11. A heater bag according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it includes a switch (134) for selectively connecting the heater elements (141, 142) in series for powering from a power supply at a first nominal voltage V_N1, or in parallel for powering from a power supply at a second nominal voltage V_N2 equal to half the first nominal voltage V_N1.
12. A heater bag according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it further comprises a temperature limiter (136) integrated in each heater plate (121, 122).
13. A heater bag according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it includes a pair of semi-flexible heater plates (121, 122) disposed in two opposite main faces of the bag (110A, 110B; 211, 213), and in that the walls (110C, 210) uniting these opposite main faces (110A, 110B; 211, 213) present a capacity for deformation in a direction perpendicular to said opposite main faces.
14. A heater bag according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that each semi-flexible heater plate (121, 122) is removable relative to the pocket in which it is inserted.

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